Automatically-controlled valve mechanism.



. YATES:

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 1330.2, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. J. YATES.

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1909.

964,833, Patented July 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

=1 leasing instrumentalit UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

THOMAS J. YATES, 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NGR 0F ONE-HALF TO SALEM LAUNDRY COMPANY, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CQREOEATEON OIE lvEAfiSA- AUTOMATICALLY-GGNTB-OLLEZQ VALY l1 MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters "iatent.

Patented July ill, kill).

Application filed llecember 2, 1999. Serial No. 530,934.

particularly adapted for use in connection wlth Washing. machines for controllnig the supply thereto of hot and cold Water. so that the water maybe introduced into the washing receptacle in a regulated manner and shut o'fi automatically at the desired time.

The principal object of my invention the production of novel and ei'licient means for locking the valves in any desired open position each valve being set independently, together with an instrumentality to unlock the valves and permit closure thereof when a predetermined quantity of fluid has been admitted to the receptacle.

I have herein shown convenient and en:

cient device for controlling the operation of the valve-releasing'instrumcntality, whereby the use of stuffing boxes, floats, and jointconncctions with the obviated.

The valve mechanism itself is so constructed and arranged that the manual opening or setting of the valve is effected with a very slight expenditure of power, such. construc- Washing receptacle are tion and arrangement also reventin haini, h &

nering, or hanimer hlows, when the valve closes.

The novel features of my invention Will be fully described in the suhjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the iollowing claims.

NVhde my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with. washing Ina-- chines it is not restricted to such. use, as will be apparent hereinafter.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a washing machine with one embodiment of my present invention applied thereto, one of the valves loeing shown in closed] position While the other is locked in open position the rereadiness to operate; ig. 2 is a detail top plan view of themeans for governing the operation oi the releasing instriunentallty;

' being shown in.

8 is an enlarged elevation of the valve niecl anisro, shown in the position illustrated in F l; l is a left hand side elevation thereoi but 1 ing means for both valves. are shown as inoperative that is, with the valves shut; Fig.- 5 a detail in side elevation showing one of the locking means in position to lock its valve open; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail, on the line 6-4), Fig. 8, taken through enact the valve-chambers, to illustrate the con struction of the valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, a is "a tub or. recep-v tacle to which water is to be supplied, such for instance as employed in Washing machines for laundry use, the Water being introduccd to the receptacle at its bottom lay a supply pipe 5, the latter being shown. as vertical and extended upward adjacent one of the heads 0 oil the receptacle. At the upper end of said pipe I) is secured. a -casing d which in the'present instance has two valve-chambers, one of whicln'as c, is shown in Fig. 6, and pipes or "conduits leading from suitable sources of hot and cold Water supply are connected with nipples f and g at the top oi the casing, each nipple conorder to avoid confusion. lockstituting an inlet to one of the valve-chanc hers e.

- The depending extension h from the casing (7. is attached to the upper end of the supply pipe 5, said extension communieating with each chamber 6 and forming theoutlet therefor, all substantially of well known constr .ction in apparatus of this general character.

Thehead has thereto a'liorizontal rod 1 .gs. l and 2, which constitutes a fulcrum tor a lever 2, 3 having its shorter arm bifurcated to pivotally support-at 4t a re ceiver 5 having itsbottoin connected by a raboer or other flexible-pipe 6 with an elbow T tightly fitted into the head 0 near the hottcin of the receptacle aso that at all times the interior of the latter is in 'communica tion with the receiver.

Upon the longer arm 2 of the lever is hung a weight 8 which is movable in and out'along said arm, to counterbalance the Weight of the receiver 5 and a predetermined quantity of fluid therein. it being manifest lee that Whatever may he the level of the-fluid in receptacle a. above the bottom of said B6- c ver the level of the fluid-in the receiver correspond. ilonsequently the greater arm as slotted at 9, Fig.2,

the volume of fluid in the receptacle a the greater will be the quantity in receiver 5, with a corresponding increase in weight tending to rock the lever and elevate the free end of its arm 2, so that by adjusting the weight 8 said lever will be rocked when the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermii'ied level.

i have. herein shown the free end of lever to loosely embrace a depending transmitting rod it) just beneath a collar 11 fixed thereon, so that when the receiver descends the rocking of the lever 2, 3 will elevate said rod 10. I

The lever and the receiver 5 depending therefrom constitute means governed by the fluid in the receptacle to control the valve releasing inst-runientality. to be described,

whereby such instrumentality caused to operate at a predetermined time to shut olt autoniatically the admission of fluid to the receptacle .1.

At its upper end the rod 10 is pivotally connected with an arm 12, Fig. l, of a shouldered bevel taced detcnt 13 pivoted at 14 in ears 153 on the extension h, a shoulder 16 on the detent engaging a fixed stop 17 to limit descent of the rod 10 and improper positioning of the Q'tent when inoperative.

Herein I have shown the releasing member as a vertically movable plate 18 slidably mounted on the face of the casing by means of headed studs 19. the shanks of which pass through elongated longitudinal slots 20 in the releasing member, see Fig. 3, the lower end of said member having a depending extension 21 provided on its rear face with a lateral shoulder 22 and an adjacent beveled face 23, clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Parallel and frontwardly extended releasing ears 24 are formed on the member 18, for a purpose to be described, the upper end of said member being pivoted at 9.5 to a lever 26 fulcrumed at. 27 on av standard 28 fixed on the top of easing (Z, the lever extending across the latter and at its front end terminating in a handle 29.

A depending link 30 is pivoted to the rear end of lever 26 and extends loosely through a guide 31 on the back of the casing, and

between said guide and a nut 32 on the lower end of the link an operating springlilB is coiled around, said link.

To set the" releasing instrumentality the handle 29 is drawn downward, raising the link 30 and compressing the spring 33, and simultani-zously the member 18 is depressed, the beveled face 23 wiping over the correspondii'ig face of the detent 1.3 ai'id swinging the latter back until the shoulder of the detent can swing forward above and in holding engagement with the shoulder 2'3 carried by the releasing member .18. The de tent now retains and holds said member 18 in setposition ready to operate, the compressed spring 33 acting to elevate the releasing membe' and thereby cause it to perform its proper function the instant the dctcnt 13 is rendered inoperative. Manil'estly this will occur when the transmitting rod 10. is lifted by the action of the fluid-governed controlling mans bcrcin-before described, and it will be understood that. the.

normal position of the releasing instrumentality, when lluid is being supplied to the receptacle a, is shown in Figs. 1. 3 and 4.

A stop 31 on the member 18 is adapted to engage the bottom of the casing (Z when said member is released, to limit. the springactuated movement of such niembe' and relieve the headed studs 19 from such duty.

Inasmuch as the two valve structures are the same, and likewise the locking means for each valve, it will be necessary to describe in detail but one valve structure and its locking means.

Referring to Fig. (l the front end ofvalvechamber 0 is provided with a. suitable stuttingbox 35 through which passes the longitudinally movable valve-stem 313, the latter havinggrooves or channels 37 formed therein for part of its length and leading from an enlargement the inner end of whichconstitutes an auxiliary valve 38 having its seat 39 formed in the adjacent face of a piston t0 constituting a part of the main valve.

The piston slides in an open-ended cylinder 41 screwed into the open rear end of the chamber 6, the outer end of the cylinder being closed fluid-tight by a cap'et'l having a socket 4:3 for the reception of a spring 14,

p the inner end of the spring bearing against an annular flange 15 on the enlargement of i the valve-stem 36. A longitudinal slot at; in such enlargement receives loosely a pin 47 mounted in ears -18 on the piston, one of such ears being shown in Fig. 6.

By the slot and pin connection the auxiliary valve 38 can be moved to and from its seat 39, by the movement of the valve-stem 36, but, at the same time the stem is thereby positively connected with the main valve so that the latter can be moved manually to and from its seat.

The spring 44 tends to seat the auxiliary valve and thereby close the channels 37, and said spring also operates to overcome the friction of the moving parts when the main valvecloses, the stutling-box necessarily exerting considerable friction on the valve stem. v

The piston 40 is not fitted fluid-tight in the cylinder 41, but a clearance of about seven one-thousandt'hs of an inch is provided in practice, so that when the main alve is shutthe fluid pressure in the outer end of the cylinder maintains the valve shut and also acts with'spring'est to keep the auxiliary valve sea-ted.

inward movement of the valve-stern nnsoms The main valve groper is pro? of robber or other non-metallic meteri the form of a thick ring held tig .1 against the front face of piston 40 by the shouldered thinihle 50, which is screwed onto the "tnhnler hub 51 of the oi ton thrdugh which the valve-stein. slides.

As shown in Fi e. '5 the end the ring valve 459 is ta ered; to fit .tigl'itly upon the correspondingy tapered, annular seat o2 formed in the end of sleeve 53 fixedly mounted in the chamh r e in. practice forming the passage through which the fluid travels from the inle-L nipple (or 7) when the valve is open, and the thimhle 5D is provided With glide-Wings which slide upon the interior of the sleeve 53, to guide the valve in its .raovenient to and from its seat 52.

To open the valve the valve-stein pushed inward and such movement is rahfiy made is independent of the main-valve and its piston until the auxiliary valve 38 is opened, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby permitting the valveclosing fluid pressure in the cylinder 41 to drop, (itbeing remembered that when the main. valve is shut it is held seated bv such fluid pressure acting against the outer end or face of the niston it-U) and further or opens the main valve "with very little effort.

As a matter of feet the instant the pressure is relieved .at the outer end of the pieton the fluid pressure acting on the inner end thereof moves the main valve from its scat and thereby closes the auxiliary valve 38, and thereafter continued inward movement of the valve-stein completes the desired opening oi: the main valve with very little effort.

Nero it not for the reduction of pressure at the enter end of thepiston the power required to open the main valve would have to be exerted against the full timid-pressure, necessitating a great outlay of strength on the part; of the-operator when ord v high pressure utilised in the sources (ILL Wetc' supply.

ho attempt has been made to illustrate the clearance between the piston 40 and cylinder l1 in Fig. 6, because of the impossh bility of doing on drawing of the size sh0wn.

When the main valve is open it has a constant tendency toclose because of the scrihed, the main valve closes eutornstieelly,

but with a slov movement and Without any hfii1lD6Y-lJlOW or shock, to; as the clearance around piston is small the entrance of additional fluid into the cylinder 41 as the piston moves forward must he gradual. As e. result undue wear of the valve 49 and its seat is ohviated.

While the spring" i4 is used mainly to overcome the friction or". the moving parts still it has some eiicct in tending to close the valve, but it always insures the seating of ihe auxiliary valve during closing movement et' it e main valve.

Shem any grit or sediment pass into the cylinder il it can he removed by moving the piston hack and forth therein. by reciprocating valve-stein, for by the positive connection between the stern and the piston the latter can he moved manually in either direction.

It. now remains to describe the locking means whereby the valve is held open to any desired extent during the admission of fluid to the receotscle 0:. Between a pair of cars r on. tl e tfront of casing d directly above each smiling-boy; pivot at 56' a radiushar slotted at its :free end to embrace a segmental locking member 58, pivotall T con nected I with the radius-her and having stopehonlder 60 adjacent hereto. The lower of the segment pivotally connected 6.1 with the slotted end of a coupling (S2 screwed tightly onto the outer end of the valve-stem 36, and l have extended the member 58 below said coupling to constitute a. handle 63 for manually operating the valve.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the locking segment 58 moves in a vertical plane, and as the valve-stein 36 is moved in or ontthe segment swings slightly on the jlvot 59 and also moves bodily e short, Cistance vertically, up when the valve is opened and down when the valve is closed, as will be apparent from a comparison of Figs. and 5.

The front or convex face of the locking segment. smooth, as shown, end'the bodily Clltlliom Enthe position of the segment always takes place about the fulcrum pin 56 or" the radinohar as a fixed center! Upon the pin 56 outside the ears 55 I meant. a yoke-like latch 64, which embraces the segment 58, the cross-bar 65 of the latch cooperating with the convex face of the segnient at. different points, according to the position of the valve The cross-oar is shown as provided with a fingenpiece 66, by'means of which the latch can he moved by hand if desired, end

means, Fig. 3, it will be seen that the pin (37 thereof will always be above its cooperating releasing car 24, and wholl independent thereof when the releasinginstrumentality is set in readiness to operate. In other words there is no cooperation between any part of the valve-locking means and the releasing instriunentality under normal conditious. and cooperation will not be effected until the detent 13 is disengaged from the shoulder 22 of the releasing member 18. \Vhen such release is etfcotcd, by the rocking of lever 2, El as hereinbefore described, the spring 33 causes the instant operation of the releasing member 18 and the cars 24 thereof are brought into engagement with the pins (37. to thereby swing upward the locking latches into inoperative position, Fig. 4, from any operative or locking position which said pins previously occupied.

Supposing that the attendant has set the releasing instrumentality into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4- by pushing down the handle 2 he then grasps and pushes back toward the casing (Z first one and then the other of the handles 63, and viewing Fig. 4, as said handle is pushed back the connected valve is opened to the desired extent, according to the will of the attendant. As the valve-stem 36 slides inward the position of the locking segment 58 changes, as has been described, and the segment moves with relation to the pivots 5(5, 59 the latch 64 swings downward of its own weight, the cross-bar (35 sliding over the convex face of the locking segment. The more the valve is opened the lower down will the cross-bar travel along the segment face, and at any p int of its travel a line drawn through .the latch fulcrum 56 and the center of the crossbar 5 will be substantially normal to the convexlscgment face at the point of engagement, so it may be said that the latch positions itself automatically to lock the segment and the connected valve at any desired opening of the latter.

Unlocking of the valve can only be cffected by swinging upward the latch until it is positioned as shown in Fig. 4, leaving the locking segment 58 free to be swung forward by the movement of the valve-stem 36 as the valve closes.

This unlocking is effected automatically when an upwardly moving car 24; strikes and moves upward the corresponding pin 67, as will be apparent, and as each of the locking means is complete in itself and normally independent of the releasing instrumentality one valve can be set wide open and the other one half open, both valves can be set alike,

or any variation in the relative setting can be effected according to the requirements of any particular case. In any event, when the required quantity of fluid has been in- I troduced to the receptacle (1 the supply is shut off automatically, without any attention on the part of the attendant.

The fluid-governed device for controlling the operation of the releasing instrumentality is at all times in plain sight, it is extremely simple in construction and positive in operation, and as it communicates with the lowest part of the receptacle, soap suds or foam cannot interfere with its action.

While for many reasons I prefer to use the controlling device herein shown it will be manifest that other forms of fluidoverned controlling devices may be use in connection with my novel valve mechanism, so that my invention is notrestricted to the control of the valve mechanism by any par ticular form of fluid-governed device.

As the swinging latch frictionally engages and holds in set position the segment of the valve-locking means the point of cooperation of said latch and segment can be anywhere along the convex face of the segment, permitting any desired-degree of accuracy in the opening .of the valve.

Various changes or modifications may be made by those. skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a receptacle for fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid thereto, of means to lock the valve in open position, comprising a segmental member operatively connected with the valve, and a swinging latch to engage and hold the convex face of said member at different points according to the extent of valve opening, a spring-actuatcd releasing member to engage and move the latch to release the segmental member and permit closing of the valve, a detent to retain the releasing member inoperative, and means 0v; erned by the fluid in the receptacle to e ect automatically disengagement of the detent and releasing member.

2. 'The' combination with a receptacle for fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid thereto, of a looking so ment pivotally connected at one end wit the valvestem, a radius-bar pivotally connected with the other'end of the semcnt, a locking latch fulcrumed coaxially with the radius-bar and engaging the convex face of the segment at different points according to the extent of valve opening, to lock the valve in such position, and means governed by the level of the fluid in the receptacle to swing the latch into inoperative position automatically and valve.

3. The combination with a receptacle forfluid, and a valve to control the admission of season fluid thereto, of a lockin segment pivotally spondingchange in the position of the segment, and mlz'ans governed by the level of the fluid in the receptacle to swing the latch into inoperative position automatically and thereby unlock and permit closing of the valve. l

4'.- The combination with a receptacle for fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid thereto, of a locking segment pivot ally connected atone end with the valvestem, aradius-bar pivotally connected with the other end of the segment, a yoke-like latch embracing the so ment and fulcrumed coaxially with the ra iusbar, the free end of the latch engaging and holding the con-- vex face of the segment at dillerent points accordi to the extent of valve opening, to the byocl: the valve open in adjusted position, and. automatically acting means to release the-segment from the control of thelatch and thereby unlock the .va'lve when the fluid. in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level.

5. The COIXlblDflllOll with a receptacle for fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid tl'iereto, of means to'lock the valve in open position, said means including a swinging latch, a"spring-actuated releasing member normally disengaged from the latch and movable into positi n to engage said latch and swing it into inoperative position independently of movement of the valve, to

thereby unlock the valve and permit it to close, (latent to restrain the releasing member from on and means governed by. variations in. the volume of fluid in the receptacle to control the disengagement of the detent and releasing member.

6. The combination with a receptacle for fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid-thereto, of means to lock the valve in open position, said means comp lSlI a member operatively connected with said valve and varied in its position according to-the extent of valve opening, and a latch to cooperate with said member and hold it in. any of its positions, and means governed, by the volume of the fluid in the receptacle :1 normally disengaged from the latch, to engage and positively move said latch into inoperative position, to release the memoer of the locking n'ieaxlswith which it cooperates.

'3. The combination with a receptacle for 1 ing segment operatively connected fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid thereto, of means to lock the valve in open position, said means comprising a member operatively connected with said valve and varied in its position according to the extent of valve opening, anda latch to cooperate with said member and hold it in any of its positions, a releasing instrumentality normally independent oi and out of engagement with the locking means and adapted when operative to engage and inoperatively position the latch, and means to render operative said releasing means When the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level.

8. The combination, with a receptacle to contain fluid, and a valve to control the admission of fluid thereto, of means for locking the valve in open position and comprisin a member pivotally connected with the valve-stem, and a cooperating member pivotally mounted independently of the valve, a device to engage said pivotally mounted member and move it to inoperative position, to thereby unlock the valve, and means governed by the fluid in the receptacle to prevent the operation of said releasing device until the fluid in the receptacle reaches predetermined level. 9. The combinati0n, with a receptacle to contain fluid, a valve' to control the dmisson of fluid thereto, and a connected valvestcm exposednt one .end, of manually-set locking means cooperating With the exposed end of said valve-stem, to lock the valve in open position, a releasing device normally held from engagement With the locking means, and means governed automatically by the volume of fluid in the receptacle to permit said releasing device to engage and move the locking means and cause the same to unlock the valve.

10. In apparatus of theclass described, in combination, a receptacle to contain fluid, two valves communicating therewith and connected to sources of fluid supply, automatically acting locking means cooperating with each valve to retain it in adjusted open position when manually moved thereto, a springnctuated releasing member normally disengaged from said locking means and adapted to engage the two locking means and render them inoperative, a detent to hold the releasing member inoperative, and

means governed by the level of the fluid in the receptacle to disengage the detent and releasing member and permit movement of the latter to engage said two locking means and rendenthem inoperative,

11. In apparatus of the class I comhii'iation, a receptacle to contain fluid two valves communicating therewithrnd connected to sourcesof fiuid'supply, a lockwith each valve, a latch for and to cooperate with each described, in

segment to permit desired opening of the connected valve and hold it in such open position, and separate means controlled by the volume or liquid in the receptacle to en gage the latches and move them into inoperative position relative to their segments, to thereby release the valves.

12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a receptacle to contain fluid, two valves communicating therewith and connected to sources of fluid supply, a locking member operatively connected with each valve, a cooperating member to engage the locking member and hold the connected valve in any desired open position, and means controlled by the volum of fluid in the receptacle and normally disengaged from the said cooperating members to engage both of said cooperating members and move them out of operative engagement with their respective locking members, to thereby release the valves.

1.3.1111 apparatus of the class described, in combination, a receptacle, a pair of valves to control the admission thereto of separate supplies of lluid, a locking member movable with and also relatively to each valve, an independently mounted latch to cooperate, with each locking member at di tterent points thereon, to permit independent. setting of the valves in open position and lock them when set, and means controlled by the level of the fluid in the receptacle to move both latches into inoperative position and thereby unlocl; the valves.

L l. In apparatus of theclass described, in combination, a receptacle, a pair of valves to control the admission thereto of separate supplies of fluid, a locking member movable with and also relatively to each valve and having a curved face, a latch to frictionally engage the curved'face of each locking member atditl'erent point-s thereon, according to the extent the corresponding valve is set open, to lock such valve open, a releasing member movable between the latches to engage them and release the locking members from control of said latches, permitting the valves to close, and means to prevent operative movement of the releasing member until the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level.

15. The combination with a fluid-supply controlling valve, of a segmental member operatively connected therewith at one end, a swinging support for the other end of said member, a latch fulcrumed coaxially with .the said support and operatively engaging the convex face of the segmental member at ditterent points according to the change in the position of said member to correspond with the extent of valve opening, to lock said alve in open position, and spring actuated means to engage and move the latch to inoperative position 't'o thereby release the segmental member and permit closing of the valve, said latch vv'hen in locking position being substantially normal to the convex l'aee of the segmental men'ibcr.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. YATES. Witnesses:

Amer J. Hmuacr, Anneu'r I. Riciianosox. 

